Computer with a hidden keyboard

• US 6,480,372 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2000
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kaneko, Steven T., Fisher, Steven W., Robertson, Kenneth R., Vong, William H., Ledbetter, Carl J., Fry, Kenneth V., Adan, Manolito E., Jones, Gregory G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vortman, Anatoly
• Application Number:
  US09/556,981
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679-686, 361/725, 361/727, 361/728-730, 348/794
• US Class Current: 361/679.09
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0208 Arrangements for adjusting the tilt angle of a keyboard, e.g. pivoting legs for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1667
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards

Abstract

A computer system has a keyboard storage portion and carrier. The computer system may be a personal computer capable of generating a control signal. A keyboard holding carrier slides in and out of a processing housing. This enables selective positioning of a keyboard within the processing housing. A drive mechanism imparts reciprocal movement to the carrier and a drive control system is responsive to the control signal from the personal computer. Also included is a sensor connected to the drive mechanism that determines a position of the carrier relative to the personal computer.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a processing unit;

a processing unit housing containing said processing unit;

a keyboard including a keyboard housing, said keyboard configured for generating input signals to said processing unit in at least a partially exposed position relative to said processing unit housing;

a carrier sized for retaining a the keyboard thereon, said keyboard housing being removable from said carrier, said carrier movable relative to said processing unit; and

a drive mechanism capable of moving said carrier and said keyboard between a position within said processing unit housing to the at least partially exposed position.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said drive mechanism includes a spring.

3. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor connected to said drive mechanism for determining a position of said carrier relative to said processing unit.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the carrier is slidably mounted to said housing.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said drive mechanism includes a motor.

6. The computer system of claim 5, wherein said drive mechanism includes a gear.

7. A computer system, comprising:

a processing unit;

a carrier sized for retaining a keyboard thereon, said carrier movable relative to said

processing unit; and

a drive mechanism capable of moving said carrier;

wherein said drive mechanism includes a motor and a gear;

wherein said carrier includes at least a portion of a battery charger.

8. The computer system of claim 7, further comprising a keyboard.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein said keyboard includes a first connector and said carrier further includes a second connector, said first and second connectors interfitting with respect to each other.

10. The computer system of claim 8, wherein said keyboard includes a transmitter for wireless operation.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein said carrier includes a receiver for receiving signals transmitted by said keyboard.

12. A computer system, comprising:

a keyboard having a keyboard housing;

a processing unit housing, wherein the processing unit housing includes a keyboard storage portion at least partially located therein;

a processing unit disposed within said processing unit housing;

a movable carrier sized for supporting the keyboard housing thereon, the carrier having a first position at least partially disposed within the keyboard storage portion and a second position at least partially disposed outside of the keyboard storage portion;

wherein said keyboard is configured to be removable from said movable carrier, and said keyboard is exposed for use in said second position enabling the keyboard to send signals to the processing unit; and

a drive mechanism configured for moving said carrier between said first position and said second position.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein said carrier is a first carrier, said computer system further includes a second carrier movably disposed on said first carrier, said second carrier is sized to support the keyboard and movable relative to said first carrier.

14. The computer system of claim 12, further comprising:

an input device for signaling said drive mechanism to move said carrier, wherein said input device is operatively coupled to said processing unit.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the drive mechanism includes a motor.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the drive mechanism includes a position sensor for sensing the position of the carrier.

17. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the input device is a proximity sensor for sensing the presence of an user relative to said processing unit housing.

18. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the input device is a physically depressible button.

19. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the keyboard storage portion is partially bound by a pivotally mounted flap.

20. The computer system of claim 12, wherein said movable carrier is slidably mounted relative to said housing.

21. A computer system, comprising:

a processing unit housing, wherein the housing includes a keyboard storage portion at least partially located therein;

a movable carrier sized for supporting a keyboard thereon, the carrier having a first position at least partially disposed within the keyboard storage portion and a second position at least partially disposed outside of the keyboard storage portion;

a processing unit within said processing unit housing;

a drive mechanism for moving said carrier between said first position and said second position; and

an input device for signaling said drive mechanism to move said carrier, wherein said input device is operatively coupled to said processing unit,

wherein the input device is an audio sensor responsive to an audio command.

22. A computer system, comprising,

a keyboard having a battery connected to a charging connector, said keyboard having a keyboard housing ;

and

a carrier sized for retaining the keyboard thereon, said carrier having at least a portion of a battery charger;

wherein said carrier includes a receiving surface for said keyboard housing, said keyboard housing having a lower surface which rests on said receiving surface of said carrier, said charging connector is removably coupleable to said portion of said battery charger to enable the charging of said battery of said keyboard when said charging connector is coupled to said portion of the battery charger.

23. The computer system of claim 22, further comprising a processing unit, said keyboard providing an input signal to said processing unit.

24. The computer system of claim 22, wherein said keyboard includes a wireless transmitter for sending data and said carrier includes a receiver for receiving said data for said processing unit.

25. The computer system of claim 22, further comprising a drive mechanism for imparting movement to said carrier.

26. The computer system of claim 25, wherein said drive mechanism includes a motor.

27. The computer system of claim 22, further comprising a processing unit housing having an opening sized for receiving said carrier.

28. The computer system of claim 27, wherein the drive mechanism moves said carrier between a first position at least partially within the opening of the housing and a second position at least partially outside of the opening for allowing a user to access said keyboard.

29. The computer system of claim 22, wherein said portion of said battery charger interfaces with said charging connector to transmit a direct current to said battery.

30. A computer system, comprising:

a processing unit having a housing;

a keyboard having a wireless transmitter for transmitting a signal; and

a movable carrier sized to retain said keyboard thereon, said movable carrier having a receiver for receiving said signal, said receiver of said movable carrier being operatively coupled to said processing unit;

wherein said keyboard is removable from said movable carrier and said housing includes an opening sufficiently sized to retain said keyboard and said movable carrier therein.

31. A computer system, comprising:

a processing unit;

a keyboard configured for generating input signals to said processing unit, said keyboard having a keyboard housing;

a movable carrier sized for retaining the keyboard thereon, said keyboard housing being removable from said movable carrier; and

a drive control system operatively coupled to said processing unit, wherein said drive control system initiates movement of the carrier relative to the processing unit in response to a control signal from said processing unit.

32. The computer system of claim 31, further comprising a housing, wherein said processing unit, said movable carrier, and said drive control system are disposed within the housing.

33. The computer system of claim 31, wherein the control signal is initiated by a computer implemented software command.

34. The computer system of claim 31, wherein the control signal is initiated by an actuation of a button.

35. The computer system of claim 31, wherein the control signal is initiated by a detection of a sensor which detects the presence of a user in proximity to said processing unit.

36. A method of moving a keyboard carrier in a computer system, the carrier sized to retain a keyboard thereon, said keyboard being separable from said carrier, the computer system further including a drive mechanism coupled to the carrier and a processing unit, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a control signal to the drive mechanism;

moving the carrier and said keyboard by the d rive mechanism to an extended position away from said processing unit; and

sending signals to the processing unit by the keyboard in the extended position.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of providing the control signal includes receiving a verbal command.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of providing the control signal includes sensing the presence of a user in proximity to said processing unit.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of providing the control signal includes scanning at least one of a portion of a retina and a portion of a fingerprint.

40. A method of charging a battery-powered keyboard in a computer system including a movable carrier having a portion of a battery charger, said movable carrier sized for retaining said keyboard thereon and said keyboard having a keyboard housing separable from said movable carrier, the method comprising the steps of:

physically coupling the keyboard to said portion of the battery charger;

in said moveable carrier; and

separating the keyboard from the portion of the battery charger.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said step of physically coupling includes abutting a charging connector of said keyboard to said portion of said battery charger.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said step of physically coupling includes retaining said keyboard on said movable carrier.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein said a step of physically coupling includes transferring an electrical current to said keyboard.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein said step of moving includes moving said keyboard and

44. A method of wireless communication in a computer system between a keyboard and a processing unit, the keyboard having a transmitter, and the computer system further including a movable carrier for retaining the keyboard thereon and the processing unit having a housing with an opening sized to retain the keyboard and the movable carrier therein, the method comprising the steps of:

moving the keyboard and the movable carrier into an extended position from a position at least partially within said opening of said housing;

transmitting a wireless signal from said transmitter of the keyboard while said keyboard and said movable carrier are in said extended position;

receiving the wireless signal by the receiver on the movable carrier; and

processing the wireless signal by the processing unit.